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Monday, 28 April 2014

Second offering from me today (the first is my Crafty Cardmakers DT post below - which doesn't really count as a post as it was scheduled!!)
My ardent followers will know that I've been making a mix of card styles recently but particularly some CAS cards for the 'pink box' because of high postage costs. I've been following the CAS challenge blogs and managed to enter a few - this is another.

I don't think I'm a CAS Grunge person! I really struggled as in my mind this theme is for canvas and stuff where you can chuck lots of mixed media bits at it!
Anyway I gave it a go so any comments/tips/criticisms you have I will gratefully accept!

Just a mixture of splatter stamps inked with Adirondack Stonewash and Latte Inks and the wheels were Brushed Cordorouy DI.
Stonewash also used on the sentiment stamp
Matted onto co ordinating coloured paper before mounting onto the card.

Pleased with the overall look of it and don't think it looks too bad and with the added bonus of it being unembellished it will fit the bill of 'not too expensive to post'!!

The weeks are passing really quickly and it's time for our team's next challenge at Crafty Cardmakers & More.
This time Kim has set the theme - 'Its a Bug's Life' - so anything which has a butterfly, dragonfly, ladybird or any other INSECT as your main image or focal point.

I opted to do a CAS card this time and a rectangular one instead of my usual square offerings to use up the rest of the card from my previous post!

This was a quick card and meant I could also use up some scraps of polka dot paper.
Simply punched out the butterflies and overlaid the linen textured card.

Some co ordinating polka dot ribbon from my stash tied round the top.
Raised it up onto the base card with foam pads after stamping and embossing the sentiment with Turquoise Versacolour ink and clear embossing powder.

Added a few tiny sparklies to the centres of the butterfly bodies.
Another card for the 'not too expensive to post 'pink' stash box'!
Hope you can join us with your insecty creations this time round - one of the two fab prizes from our sponsors may be heading your way!

Friday, 25 April 2014

Today I had just been messing about with colours on a piece of scrap card mainly to see what they were like together when it struck me that the top part of the card had some colours in that looked like sky and a summer sun!
So I simply chopped it up into three equal sized pieces and took out some small grassy ferny type stamps.

Inked the small stamps with Peeled Paint DI and stamped a couple of times on the pieces.
The pieces overpowered my usual square card and i didn't really want to chop them up any smaller so I had to use a DL card instead!

Scored lines above and below and then from another piece of the inked scrap where I'd used different colours I punched out a small butterfly.
Wee bit of glitter on the butterfly and job sorted. No sentiment yet as I don't know what I'll use it for!

Thursday, 24 April 2014

We have a lovely day here so it's off out for me in a little while - as the rain is set to supposedly set to return tomorrow!
Am carrying on making the odd 'man' card and here's another for my 'show and tell' today.

Amongst my collection of images was this one of the vintage golfer - when you look at how he is dressed , shirt, tie and jacket, it makes you wonder how he could hit a golf ball!

I printed the image out on linen embossed card then distressed running 'Tea Dye' round the edge. Then matted it onto a dark brown card.

The papers were from my stash and although I think I've been using them up the piles are not getting any smaller - I think the Paper Fairy is coming in and secretly adding to them....

The plaited twine I have had for absolute years (and I MEAN years) - wrapped it round the matted card and stuck it on the top with a button 'golf ball' .
The crossed golf clubs are from the same button set.

Finished with a stamped sentiment (a freebie from a magazine) which I just tucked underneath the golf ball.
Inside decorated to match.

Sunday, 20 April 2014

Someone asked me recently what kind of card maker I am - messy I answered! I don't think that was the purpose of the question though - the person wanted to know if I was a 'frilly and fussy' one or one that liked to make 'plain understated' ones.
It was a really difficult question because I actually like to do both - every girl needs frothy bits don't they? Conversely though I do confess to trying to perfect the CAS style too.

There are some amazing CAS card makers and amongst my list (long list!) of people who I think make brilliant simple cards is Loll - and I chose to case the design of one of her cards for this make which uses up a long neglected and at one time favourite stamp.
(I think it was a Hero Arts one - it used to be wood backed but I took it off the wood when my collection grew and I ran out of storage space!)

I love these oriental style cherry blossoms - makes me smile when I see cherry blossoms in flower as you know then that spring is here and summer is just round the corner.

Stamped in Versafine Sepia several times and coloured with Distress Inks. Then cut out into squares and some glossy accents applied to a couple of each of the blossoms inside each square.
Scored two lines on plain white card and added some corrugated kraft cardstock between the scored lines before the blossom squares.
Sentiment also stamped with Versafine Sepia.
Challenges -Hobbycutz - CASPixies Playground - SnippetsCrafty Catz - letter 'B' (Blossoms)Stampin with the Dragon - SpringtimeTime 4 Scrap - SpringABC - J for Just as you likeCrafters Cafe - CAS

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Another beautiful day here - clear blue skies and lovely sunshine - it's amazing how more upbeat you feel when the weather is nice!
A warm welcome too to my new followers - Leisaand Christine- thanks for following my blog and I look forward to seeing you often!
Here's my share for today

Had a little play about with some watercolour pastels on a Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle' stamp then stitched it onto pale pink card.

The background papers are from Pink Petticoat, again layered onto pink card and stitched.
I am using the pink lace on a mixed media project at the mo so it was out on the desk - wrapped it round the papers then made a bow using a pearl buckle.
Flowers, pearls and pins are from my stash and the little pink ladybug is a wooden embellie bought years ago!
Decorated inside to match.

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Monday, 14 April 2014

Sorry I've been AWOL from posting - it's been quite a busy few days so although have found some time to visit blogland, have had no time to actually post!
Am currently waiting for some glue/paint and other mess (LOL) to dry so popped on for a quick share.

Used more paper from the Papermania pad which was still on the desk from the last 'teddy' card.
Another LOTV square which I 'enhanced' (LOL) with some Distress Inks and matted onto red card.
The Picket Fence die and the Heart Banner die were little 'treats' to myself a couple of weeks ago and I used plain white card for them both.
The ribbon is recycled. A friend bought me a Christmas plant basket and this ribbon was tied to the handle - she said - 'I know you'll use it on a card' so couldn't disappoint her could I????
Some twine, a couple of pearls and a stamped sentiment with the off cuts from the banner and the inside decorated to match.
This is another for the 'Viv's Stash/Pink Box'.
Challenges -613 - Anything (option- recycle)Ribbon Girl - Anything LOTV 2 Sisters - Teddy BearsSusy-Bee's - Anything GoesCrafty Catz - AnimalsMema's - Anything Goes

Hope your weather wherever you are is as sunny and bright as it is here! Have a great day and thanks for visiting. x

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Having a rummage about in the lace baskets I found lots of odd bits which I haven't been able to bear to throw away - (I was obviously a squirrel in a former life) - I dragged out a few scraps and left them out on the desk as I have had this idea rattling round in my head and wanted it all to 'come together' before I made a mess of making something -
- and the reason why I didn't want to spoil anything is the centrepiece - it was made by the lovely Cazand it came with fab candy stash which I was fortunate enough to win!

Originally I didn't want to use either of the two gorgeous hand made brooches from the candy pile - they're just too beautiful but it seemed a shame not to - at least this way the tag can sit out on display in my craft room and be seen!
So thank you Caz - and I hope I've done your creation justice!

I inked the tag with Old paper, Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick DI, then randomly stamped some script over it. (Can't see this very well on the pic but trust me it's there!)

I covered the whole of the tag then with some old lace which had a fancy edge and stitched it, then just added more and more odd scraps, stitching them all as I went along.

The brooch was then pinned to the centre and I cut out a vintage pic and popped it into a metal frame, covered it with Glossy Accents and stitched to the base of the tag.

The 'believe' was another scrap found in the lace basket and I raised it up slightly by arching it before stitching the ends. Used some seam binding ribbon and more odd lace looped through the top.

Monday, 7 April 2014

Today our challenge at Vintage Stamping is 'ANYTHING GOES' so you can make anything you like as long as somewhere on your creation there is some stamping!
I made a 'Man' card!
Aren't I good??? LOL I am not a maker of 'man' cards really - I cannot make something and not put a ribbon, bow, flower or sparkly on it somewhere........... and 'men' don't like all that 'sort of stuff' do they??? LOL
But this one was something that I actually enjoyed doing for a change!
The papers are almost as old as me.. well not quite - but I've had them for years - so I dusted them off and used them!
The vintage hot air balloon stamp is from our sponsor and can be found here - the plate is full of brilliant male themed vintage machines so maybe now I will do more man cards!
I stamped the balloon image three times then decoupaged. I thought about adding Glossy accents - may still do- undecided!
Matted the image onto black card and added a metal corner which I had rubbed over with 'Olive' metallic rub as it was a very shiny silver to start off with.
The script is from an embossing folder which has a large butterfly on it - Just tore off the butterfly and again rubbed over the card with some 'Gold' and 'Olive' metallic rub (as the black card lacked any depth), then sealed it.
The two Edwardian gentlemen is an old stamp which may be from Paperartsy but can't remember - likewise I have had the sentiment stamp for ages and again don't know whose it is.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today - and as you can make anything you want why don't you enter the challenge this time - you may be able to have a spendie on some new stash if you win!

Sunday, 6 April 2014

I finally finished this after a lot of leaving it on the desk and looking at it wondering why on earth I chose to use this colour combo.... all down to the 'carry on using up the paper' theme which is my mantra at the moment.

I have no idea how old this paper is (nor in fact where it is from!) - it maybe a HOTP pad but who knows??? LOL
I am really unsure about the finished card .. but thought I would share it anyway.

With the bold pattern and dark colour of the background papers I found them quite difficult to work with. I used minimal colouring on the image (which is from A Day For Daisies) trying to co-ordinate the colours with the papers., using Tea Green and Pastel Green shades on the fairy dress with some DI's on the flowers and the rest.

Dark maroon card first with the patterned paper stitched on top. I cut out more of the maroon card using a fancy oval nestie then chopped it up to make the corner, adding a piece of co-ordinating paper and stitched it all together.
A couple more fancy corner dies stuck to the top of the card.

Strip of maroon velvet ribbon onto some more offcuts then the coloured image positioned over it. Few little sparklies added and some glamour dust to the wings.

The flowers were done using some old pansy shapes from my stash - I scrunched them up and stuck them together to try to make fuller flowers (am not sure if they overpower the card or not!) - added a few leaves and a couple of flourishes.

Saturday, 5 April 2014

Couple of days ago arrived back to a cold, wet Manchester Airport - the week in the sun passed by so quickly!
Have played a bit of catch up round blogland and a bit of catch up with other things since coming back - have 3 half finished cards on the desk and Mr Mojo is alive and well and still lying on a sunbed somewhere - cos he ain't here with me!I have not settled to do anything since I came home -so rather than leave another day with nothing shared here's one I finished before I went away.

I don't make many cards for the stash which could be used for kids really - think it's because I don't have any little ones in the family so unless I'm asked for one specifically they're not made!
But I did buy some LOTV squares last year as I thought they'd be useful - this is one of them.(And the ONLY one I've used up to now!)
He's a nice Ted I think!

Papers are a Papermania male themed pad (??) and matted them all onto black card.
The little wooden star was coloured with Distress Inks and I added a couple of black pearls.
The tag was attached with some twine which was a challenge win.
Inside decorated to match!

Proud to be -

Muse

Outstanding Design!

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About Me

I love being in my crafty space! It's a place where I can make cards, paint, alter stuff and lose myself!!
If I manage to sell anything I've made the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Campaign.
I am a football fanatic and am a mad Liverpool FC supporter.
I've been tracing my family tree for the last 7 years (with one ancestry line traced back to 1605!) and this is another addiction.
I divide my time up doing all the things I like to do - crafting, genealogy, and playing bowls! I am lucky enough to have formed several friendships through my crafting and love being in blogland!

Former Design Team Member

DT Favourite!

The Playground!

Former Vintage Stamping DT Member

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FOUR TIMES A GINGER GEM!

Honoured to be selected for this award- great talented artists here and to be picked amongst them once was amazing - four times is awesome!!!

Show-Off!

But I don't do blog awards - thank you for thinking of me. x

THE CRAFTERS COMMANDMENTS

1. I will not stuff craft supplies in every corner of my house. 2. I will not keep 9 projects going at one time 3. I will not pick more buttons, lace or fabric when I have a ton at home 4. I will not let my crafting area look like a condemmed area 5. I will not attend craft shows just to get more ideas 6. I will not relegate the kitchen table to crafts7. I will not stock up on more craft supplies just because they are on sale.8. I will not go off on a tangent when anyone mentions import9. I will not let my crafting distract me from fixing dinner.10. I will not stay up all night crafting.11. I will not save dryer lint, empty cereal boxes detergent scoops etc.12. I will not buy every craft magazine I see.13. I will not make promises I cannot keep ........ See you at a craft show.

COPYRIGHT

All artwork, photos and text on this blog are copyright Viv Tomlinson. I hope I can inspire people the way others have inspired me but please do not attempt to copy or reproduce my work.I consent for my work for any challenges/swaps etc I enter to be copied and posted on the relevant site, but please do not put any of my images elsewhere.